Forecasting a estimated equation

[LightMooCow]

So, I know there is a lot of help on this but I am still having problems with this.

I have data for two variables: ff and ip from 1989m1 to 2008m1. The goal in mind is to forecast from 2008m2 to 2010m2.

So, I estimate the model dip c dip(-1) dip(-2) ff(-1) ff(-2) where dip = log(ip)-log(ip(-1)).

When I try to forecast from 2008m2 to 2010m2, it says that I need to go to proc structure/resize the page. So I then change the range from 1989m1 to 2008m1 --------> 1989m1 to 2010m2. However, when I try to forecast 2008m2 2010m2, it says that there is not enough observations.

What I don't understand is that I have the data and I have already estimated the equation via OLS. Can someone shed some light on this matter please?

[EViews Gareth]

Did you do a static forecast or a dynamic forecast?

[LightMooCow]

I tried both and I got the same error :'(

[EViews Gareth]

A static won't work, but a dynamic should.

From your equation click on Proc->Make Regressor Group. Then check that you have data for all variables (other than the dependent) for the first period of the forecast sample. If not, then that's your problem.

[LightMooCow]

The data goes up to 2008m09

So, what I see are:

obs dip dip(-1) dip(-2) ff(-1) ff(-2)
2008m09 ### #### #### #### #####
2008m10 na na na na na
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .

So, when I do a dynamic forecast from 2008m09 2010m10, the forecast sample is 2008m09 2010m10 and the adjusted sample is 2008m09 2008m10. Included observation is 1. Any ideas?

By the way, I really appreciate your very, very quick responses. Thanks

Edit: It didn't keep the spaces, I tried to show in the awesome table I made... :'(

[EViews Gareth]

What you are describing is odd.

If dip exists for 2008m09 (I presume the ### indicate that it does exist), then, dip(-1) should exist for 2008m10.

Similarly if ff(-1) exists for 2008m09, then ff(-2) should exist for 2008m10.

[LightMooCow]

Yeah, it is odd. It seems that I was not the only one having problems on this though. Other people doing the Problem set are having problems too I guess since I have the estimated model, I can just use excel to produce the forecast for the next 24 months.

Also, I was able to obtain the forecast using proc --> make model (it actually is a VAR(2)). However, I thought I would be able to obtain the SEs or SDs, but in the other thread, nope

I'll probably look into stata... maybe... if I have the time...

Anyway, I really appreciate your help. Thank you so much!!